Batten strip assembly and method for installation



Sept. 12, 1967 J. MAIER, JR

BATTEN STRIP ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR INSTALLATION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 1966 INVENTOR. J fiat Zg/A p 12, 1967 A. J. MAIER, JR 3,340,654

BATTEN STRIP ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR INSTALLATION Filed April 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,340,654 BATIEN STRIP ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR INSTALLATION Adolph J. Maier, Jr., 128 W. Livingston Place, Metairie, La. 70005 Filed Apr. 5, 1966, Ser. No. 540,279 7 Claims. (Cl. 52-97) This invention relates to an improved batten strip as sembly for use between building panels, and in particular, the invention is concerned with a batten strip assembly which can be easily produced and installed and which provides for improved sealing characteristics between horizontal joints of panels in building structures.

Batten strips, or dividing strips, are well known in the art, and prior constructions have provided for strips which can be placed between adjacent panels or sheets of building materials for the purpose of providing a seal between the joints of such panels or sheets. In modern building constructions, it is a common practice to finish the walls of large buildings by a curtain wall type of construction wherein separate building units are attached adjacent to one another to form the desired wall structures. The panels may be preformed of cement, metal, insulation board, or even glass where it is desired to have light transmission through a particular portion of the wall. The separate panels are positioned in adjoining relationship to one another so as to leave a small space between adjacent edges of the panels. The space is then sealed in some suitable manner to keep out water or moisture, and prior sealing devices have been in the form of various types of divider bars or strips which can be attached to or interposed between adjoining panels.

In a typical curtain wall type of construction, building panels are arranged side by side to form horizontal rows of panels. Subsequent rows can be added above a first row, and the panels in subsequent rows will be placed above and in vertical alignment with panels in adjoining horizontal rows. Thus, a wall is formed with panels placed in a side by side relationship which results in horizontal and vertical joints being formed between the horizontally and vertically aligned panel units. Vertical joints between adjoining panels are more easily sealed than are horizontal joints between rows of panels because the latter type of joint receives drainage of surface moisture, or water, from across the entire exposed surface of panels located above the joint. The present invention is directed to the problem of preventing leakage in horizontal joints between horizontal rows of panels, especially insulation board panels, however, the principles of this invention may be applied to other types of joints between other building units.

The batten strip assembly of this invention includes a dividing strip, a mounting clip which can be attached to the dividing strip, and a cover strip which is constructed to conceal all screw heads or other fastening devices used in attaching the building units to a frame structure. The mounting clip used with this invention is attachable to the diving strip by means of self-tapping screws, or other devices, and the mounting clip includes means for attaching the cover strip thereto so as to provide a finished appearance to the entire assembly with all mounting devices concealed from view. p

The dividing strip element of the assembly can be easily extruded from aluminum or other suitable material, and the dividing strip is of a particular construction which provides for an improved seal together with an improved method for assemblying panels in a building structure. The dividing strip serves as a platform which supports a row of panels on its upper surface while the panels are being attached to a wall being assembled. This characterice istic permits the dividing strip to be initially installed across the upper edges of a horizontal row of panels, and then asubsequent row can be put in position before completing the installation of the batten strip assembly which will seal the horizontal joint between the two rows of panels.

Each of the component parts of the present invention is constructed to effectively space and seal the horizontal joints between rows of panels. The sealing is accomplished by providing a built-in gutter which carries 011? any moisture or water which begins to enter the space between adjoining panels. The configurations of the elements making up the batten strip assembly are easily extruded and easily assembled. The entire batten strip system of this invention is manufactured at low cost and assembled with less labor than has been possible with prior devices. These advantages, taken together with the more effective seal which can be created by the device of this invention, account for the great utility of this invention.

Although the batten assembly is described with particular reference to horizontal joint sealing uses, it could be adapted to vertical requirements as well. In addition, the elements which are used in the batten assembly are easily utilized for window head and sill constructions as well as window and door jamb uses. These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the more detailed discussion which follows in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational cross section through a horizontal joint incorporating the novel batten strip as sembly of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 and showing an alternate construction for use with the batten system of this invention;

FIGURE 2A is a fragmentary view of FIGURE 2, and showing a shim means for use with the batten strip assembly;

FIGURE 3 illustrates a vertical elevational section of a window head incorporating the batten system;

FIGURE 4 illustrates a vertical elevational section of a window sill incorporating the present invention;

FIGURE 5 shows a horizontal cross section of a window or door jamb using components of the present invention;

FIGURE 6 is an upright plan view of horizontal and vertical joints between adjoining panels which have been finished and sealed by the batten system of the present invention; and

FIGURE 7 is a vertical elevational View of a horizontal joint taken at an intersection with a vertical joint for adjoining rows of panels and incorporating the novel batten system of this invention.

. Referring to FIGURE 1 it can be seen that the batten system of this invention is especially useful for horizontal joints between adjacent panels in a building structure. The adjacent panels 10, which may be insulation board panels having asbestos facings, are placed in vertical positions against the framing elements 11 of a steel frame building. The batten strip assembly 12 is interposed between the horizontal rows of building panels to attach the panels to the steel structure of the building and to space and to seal the panels from one another.

The batten assembly includes three components which cooperatively function to provide for a secure attaching and sealing means between horizontal rows of separate panels. The three components include a relatively long dividing strip means 14, a shorter mounting clip 15, and a long cover strip 16.

The dividing strip element 14 is extruded from aluminum, or other suitable material, into the form shown. An upright body portion 17 of the dividing strip element carries an upper web portion 18 for supporting an upright panel, as shown. A lower web portion 1% is carried by the lower end of the main body portion of the dividing strip, and the lower web is spaced from and parallel to the upper web so as to form the required spacing which is desired between adjacent rows of panels. In addition, the lower web includes a downturned flange which covers and retains an upper face of a lower row of panels. The downturned portion also includes a seal ing means 21 carried along its inner surface for engaging and sealing the downturned strip relative to the upper edge of a panel which it contacts. The dividing strip means 14 functions to set a desired space between the adjoining horizontal rows of panels between which it is used, and the dividing strip further provides for a support of one row of panels above another.

With reference to the various figures, it can be seen that the dividing strip element 14 includes a portion 22 which contacts the framing member 11 of the building to which panels are being attached. In the illustrated embodiment, the contacting portion is carried by the upper web 18, and the inner margin 22 of that web contacts the frame member 11 when the batten strip assembly is attached to a building. In this way, the batten strip can be tightly attached against the building frame so as to bring the vertical panels into tight engagement with the building frame elements. There is also formed in the upper surface of the upper web 18 a recess 23 for receiving a sealing gasket. This recess permits the placement of a neoprene or butyl rubber sealing tape 24 along the outer margin of the upper surface of the web 18, thereby providing a secondary seal along the lower outside edge of a panel supported upon the dividing strip. Because of the particular placement of the upright body portion 17 inwardly of the outside edges of the dividing strip 14, there is formed a U-shaped channel 25 in the assembly. This channel functions as a gutter which receives and carries off moisture or water which may begin to enter a horizontal joint between adjacent rows of panels. When the panels are used as exterior surfaces on a building, Water will collect and drain down the entire exposed surface of the panels, and some form of sealing means is necessary to prevent damage to the wall. Prior devices have tried to prevent the entry of water into the space between adjoining panels, but such sealing attempts have been unsuccessful or very costly for the most part. The present invention permits the travel of water downwardly past the lower edge of a panel and into the U-shaped recess 25 formed in the dividing strip element. Water may follow the under surface of the upper web 18 and the upright surface of the body portion 17 until it is finally carried away by the upper surface of the lower web 19, but in actual practice very little water enters the recessed area formed by the dividing strip. Since the dividing strip is formed by extrusion, the two web portions and the body portion are formed integrally with one another, thus leaving no collecting seams or cracks through which the water can enter into the building.

FIGURES 1 and 2 show the batten strip assembly of this invention in its final mounted position for holding two panels against a building frame member 11. The dividing strip 14 is attached to and abutted against the frame member 11 in the FIGURE 1 illustration, and FIG- URE 2 shows the use of accessory elements for attaching the assembly to a building frame where a frame member does not fall at the same level as the joint which is being sealed. In the FIGURE 2 illustration, a bracket 26 is attached to an adjacent building frame member, and the bracket includes an upright portion which can receive a fastening device from the batten strip assembly. In addition, some means is provided for fixing the bracket to the adjacent steel frame member. Thus, it is apparent that the assembly of this invention may be used where horizontal joints fall directly opposite or closely adjacent to the steel framing of a building. The FIGURE 2 illustration also shows the use of an interior batten strip 27 which cooperates with the assembly of this invention to seal off the interior of the horizontal joint and to provide a bearing surface against which the dividing strip 14 may be tightly afiixed.

The fastening means used with this invention may be of any known type, but FIGURE 1 illustrates the use of a self-tapping screw 28 which permits attachment and sealing of panels from the exterior of the wall which is being formed, and without any requirement for attachment devices to be applied from the inside of the building. FIGURE 2 shows a bolt and nut assembly 28 together with the bracket 26 for that particular mounting installation, but a self-tapping screw could be adapted for use with such a mounting also. It can be seen that the self-tapping screw 28 not only attaches the dividing strip 14 to its mounted position, but also fastens the mounting clip means 15 into its position for retaining the lower edge of a panel and for holding the panel against the frame of a building. Thus, the fastening devices which can be used with this invention are easily applied from the exterior of the wall being constructed, and each fastening device serves to assemble two of the component parts of the batten strip assembly and to attach the two component parts to the frame of a building.

FIGURES 1 and 2 show the mounting clip means 15 attached to the divider strip means 14 in a tightened assembled position for engaging and holding the lower edge of a panel which is supported upon the divider strip. The mounting clip means 15 includes means for attaching a cover strip 16 to the exterior surface of the batten strip assembly so as to give the assembly a finished appearance and to cover any exposed screw heads or other fastening devices used with the assembly. The cover strip means 16 is preferably formed from the same material as the divider strip and with a shallow groove along its interior surface to provide for an attachment of the cover strip to a portion of the mounting strip 15. The mounting clip means may include any suitable type of attaching device for receiving and holding the cover strip on an outside surface, as shown, but a preferred means for connecting the cover strip to the mounting clip is illustrated in the tongue and groove arrangement shown. The mounting clip 15 carries spaced tongue portions 29 which project outwardly for a sufiicient distance to engage a groove 30 formed within the back surface of the cover strip. The groove 30 is formed so as to be wider at its base than at its top portion near the inside surface of the strip. In this manner, the cover can be easily snapped into place with the tongue 29 of the mounting strip contained within the groove 30 of the cover strip. The cover strip 16 is of a dimension which covers substantially all of the vertical space between adjoining panels, however a small space is left at the bottom of the cover strip to permit water or moisture to run off from the U-shaped gutter 25 contained within the batten strip assembly.

Another feature of the batten strip assembly resides in a shim receiving portion formed in the dividing strip 14 for adjusting the dividing strip to slightly larger thicknesses of panels. When preformed panels are used in a construction job, there is a possibility that panels will vary slightly in thickness from the specifications for the particular job. The divider strip 14 which is used in a particular construction will be designed to fit the thickness of panel contemplated for that structure, however, some of the panels will be slightly larger or smaller than others due to manufacturing inaccuracies. Therefore, a

recessed section 31 is formed along the interior margin.

22 which contacts the frame or other portion of the building being constructed. This recess is constructed to receive a shim element 32, such as is shown in FIGURE 2A, for adding a small amount of width to the dividing strip means. The shim 32 is added to the dividing strip when a thicker panel is encountered, and this assures a tight engagement of the batten strip assembly with the frame of the build ing and without damaging the edges of the panels which are gripped by the entire assembly.

When a thinner panel is encountered a shim is placed between the panel itself and the steel framing, without placing a shim on the dividing strip.

The novel batten strip assembly of this invention provides for an improved method of installing panels in a wall structure. Prior installation methods have required that upper and lower adjoining rows of panels be initially installed, with the sealing strips or other calking means added after installation of the panels. Where the sealing means included some form of divider strip, it was necessary to shim or adjust the divider strip to varying widths v of vertical spaces between the adjoining rows of panels.

Since the divider strip 14 of this invention functions as a supporting device as well as a sealing component, there is provided an improved method for installing horizontal rows of panels above one another. The method of installation includes a first step of placing a lower horizontal row of panels in vertical positions against the building frame to which they are attached. Then the dividing strip 14 is placed across the upper horizontal edges of one or more of the first row of panels. The downturned flange 20 of the dividing strip contacts the upper edge of the panels for holding the same against the frame of the building. At this point, the mounting clips 15 are positioned against the dividing strip, and the two components 14 and 15 are partially tightened into the steel frame of the building by a self-tapping screw 28. Before the selftapping screws, or other fasteners, are completely tightened, a second row of panels is erected in a horizontal line over the first row of panels. Then the self-tapping screws can be tightened so as to draw the dividing strip into tight engagement with the steel frame of the building, and this action pulls the downturned flange 20 and the upturned mounting clip 15 tightly against the edges of the adjoining rows of panels. After the panels have been tightened into installed positions, the cover strips 16 can be easily snapped into position to complete the installation. Of course, it is understood that the rubber or butyl tape 24 is placed along the upper recess 23 in the dividing strip before placing an upper row of panels into position for tightening. Thus, the method of installation provides for a quick attachment of horizontal rows of panels without requiring any calking or shims in the space between the adjoining rows of panels.

The components of the batten strip assembly of this invention are also adaptable to other building uses. For example, FIGURE 3 illustrates the use of the entire batten strip assembly in a window head installation. In this installation, additional units are added to the batten strip assembly for finishing the upper edges of a Window or other opening, through the wall being constructed. An L-shaped header element 33 is added to the assembly and retained in place by the same self-tapping screws 28 which attach the entire assembly to the building frame. In addition, a flashing strip 34, which may be made from aluminum, is interposed between the frame of the building and the remaining components which make up the window head assembly. The flashing strip 34 provides for a protective cover structure at its lower end 35 for sealing window frame components into proper position. The FIGURE 3 type of assembly is also useful for finishing and sealing the lowermost edges of a row of panels mounted adjacent the foundation of a building.

FIGURE 4 shows a window sill installation incorporating only the dividing strip component 14 of the batten strip assembly. The dividing strip is positioned as shown to provide a sill for a window opening in a wall con struction, and an aluminum flashing 36 is riveted at 37 to the dividing strip for sealing the sill from moisture and for providing a finished appearance to the window opening.

FIGURE 5 illustrates a similar use of the divider strip 14 for a window or door jamb installation. A flashing strip 38 is riveted to the dividing strip to provide the illustrated finishing of the assembly.

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of an intersection for horizontal and vertical joints between adjacent wall panels 10. The joints are illustrated with horizontal and vertical batten strips in position, and cross-sectional elevations for the FIGURES l and 7 are illustrated by reference numerals. As seen in FIGURE 6, the horizontal joint exposes only the cover strip 16 and the down-turned flange 20 to view, and the remaining portions of the batten strip assembly are concealed from view. The batten strip assemblies are of any desired length, such as the length of a single panel unit, or they may be constructed to accommodate a plurality of panels in a row.- At the intersections of the horizontal joints with vertical joints, the cover strip elements 16 do not pass over the vertical joint, since vertical joint batten strips 40 are used to cover that portion of the intersection.

FIGURE 7 illustrates an elevational cross section of the batten strip assembly used in combination with vertical batten strips 40 of known construction. It can be seen that at the intersection there is no cover strip attached to the dividing strip 14. 'Because some water may be carried downwardly on the surface of the vertical strips '40 and into the joint 42 between adjacent divider strips 14, a separate flashing element 44 is added to the divider strip to cover and protect the joint. Additionally, a flashing element 46 is fitted below the downturned flange portion of the divider strip so as to cover the upper edges of a vertical batten strip positioned on a lower panel.

Although this invention has been described with reference to a single embodiment of the divider strip assembly, it will be appreciated that many variations can be made from the construction shown. Also it is to be understood that where the terms vertical and horizontal are used, such terms are intended to include lines of reference which are not completely vertical or horizontal. For example, the horizontal batten strip assembly may be used on a non-horizontal plane if a particular construction so requires, and the described vertical wall construction may include curved wall portions or other non-vertical constructions. These and other obvious variations are intended to be included within the present invention as claimed below.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved batten strip assembly for spacing and sealing adjoining edges of building panels in vertical wall constructions for buildings, comprising:

a divider strip means having a lower horizontal face for resting on an upper horizontal edge of a vertically positioned rfirst building panel, and an upper horizontal face for supporting the lower horizontal edge of an adjoining building panel positioned above said first building panel, said supper and lower faces of said divider strip means being parallel to each other and spaced from one another for providing the requisite spacing between the adjoining panels,

means for attaching said divider strip means to a frame portion of the building from an exterior side of said -wall construction and after said panels are in initial positions for attachment to the frame portion of the building,

means carried by said divider strip for engaging and holding said upper horizontal edge of said first building panel in a mounted position relative to said building frame, and

mounting clip means attachable to said divider strip means for engaging and holding said lower horizontal edge of the adjoining building panel in a mounted position relative to said building frame, said mounting clip means being attached to said divider strip means by said means for attaching said divider strip means to said building frame.

2. The assembly of claim 1 and including:

a cover strip means connectable to an exterior side of said assembly for covering and concealing any fastening or attaching means used for attaching said divider strip and said mounting strip meansto said building frame.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said divider strip means is extruded from a metal material and is formed to include a gutter means for collecting and carrying away moisture which begins to enter the space occupied by said assembly.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said means for engaging and holding said upper horizontal edge of said first building panel comprises a downturned flange formed integrally with the lower face of said divider strip means.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said divider strip means further comprises:

an upright body portion interconnected between upper and lower horizontal Web portions, said upper web portion including said upper horizontal face and said lower web portion including said lower horizontal face, and

a recess formed in said upper horizontal face and coextensive therewith for receiving a flexible sealing strip for contacting the lower edge of said adjoining panel which is supported on said upper horizontal face.

'6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein said upper horizontal web includes a portion for engaging the frame of said building when said divider strip and said mounting clip are tightly attached to final positions, and wherein said frame engaging portion of said upper horizontal We'b includes a shim receiving means for adding a shim to said divider strip to accommodate slightly thicker panels.

7. In the method of installing horizontal rows of vertical panels against a vertical wall framework of a building, the improvement comprising the steps of:

placing a first row of panels horizontally adjacent to one another and in upright positions against the frame of the building; positioning a supporting and retaining strip means over the horizontal upper edges of said first row of panels; adding upturned mounting clip means to said supporting and retaining strip means, and partially fastening the two components to the frame of the building; placing a second row of panels horizontally adjacent to one another and immediately over said first row of panels in a common vertical plane therewith with the lower edges of said second row of panels resting on said supporting and retaining strip means; and completing the fastening of said supporting and retaining strip means together with said mounting clip means tightly against the frame of the building so as to draw adjoining edges of said first and second horizontal rows of panels into tight engagement with the building frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,949,981 8/1960 Ferrell 52- 2-35 2,976,970 3/1961 Toney 52- 235 3,110,131 11/1963 Jeffress 52-4235 3,266,207 8/1966 Birurn 5297 REINALDO -P. MACHADO, Primaly Examiner. 

1. AN IMPROVED BATTEN STRIP ASSEMBLY FOR SPACING AND SEALING ADJOINING EDGES OF BUILDING PANELS IN VERTICAL WALL CONSTRUCTIONS FOR BUILDINGS, COMPRISING: A DIVIDER STRIP MEANS HAVING A LOWER HORIZONTAL FACE FOR RESTING ON AN UPPER HORIZONTAL EDGE OF A VERTICAL LY POSITIONED FIRST BUILDING PANEL, AND AN UPPER HORIZONTAL FACE FOR SUPPORTING THE LOWER HORIZONTAL EDGE OF AN ADJOINING BUILDING PANEL POSITIONED ABOVE SAID FIRST BUILDING PANEL, SAID SUPPER AND LOWER FACES OF SAID DIVIDER STRIP MEANS BEING PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER AND SPACED FROM ONE ANOTHER FOR PROVIDING THE REQUISITE SPACING BETWEEN THE ADJOINING PANELS, MEANS FOR ATTACHING SAID DIVIDER STRIP MEANS TO A FRAME PORTION OF THE BUILDING FROM AN EXTERIOR SIDE OF SAID WALL CONSTRUCTION AND AFTER SAID PANELS ARE IN INITIAL POSITIONS FOR ATTACHMENT TO THE FRAME PORTION OF THE BUILDING, MEANS CARRIED BY SAID DIVIDER STRIP FOR ENGAGING AND HOLDING SAID UPPER HORIZONTAL EDGE OF SAID FIRST BUILDING PANEL IN A MOUNTED POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID BUILDING FRAME, AND MOUNTING CLIP MEANS ATTACHABLE TO SAID DIVIDER STRIP MEANS FOR ENGAGING AND HOLDING SAID LOWER HORIZONTAL EDGE OF THE ADJOINING BUILDING PANEL IN A MOUNTED POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID BUILDING FRAME, SAID MOUNTING CLIP MEANS BEING ATTACHED TO SAID DIVIDER STRIP MEANS BY SAID MEANS FOR ATTACHING SAID DIVIDER STRIP MEANS TO SAID BUILDING FRAME. 